Wednesday, November 28, 2012

MANIC ATT

Starting pitcher:
M.C. O'Connor

That's an anagram of MATT CAIN. And that kicks off our contest! Take the name or names of anyone who ever wore a San Francisco Giants uniform (players and coaches) and make an anagram. The coolest ones will be selected as winners. SIR--the anagram queen--will be the judge. You can keep it simple, like Matt's eight letters, or go all William VanLandingham and John Joseph Montefusco and make a complete sentence. Remember, it's all about making the coolest one. You can enter three times. Just post a reply to this message. Winners will get the aforementioned DVD.

The standard DVD goes for $29.99 and the Bluray for $34.99 so it is a very nice prize. I can attest to the HD screen quality--you can count the hairs in Sergio Romo's beard. Here's a description:

TheOFFICIAL 2012 WORLD SERIES FILM,the annual, crowning program from Major League Baseball Productions, delivering the Giants’ series run in its entirety -- from first pitch to last -- in a pulse-pounding documentary format, complete with comprehensive highlights, exclusive access and interviews, and breathtaking footage that captures the Giants’ triumphant season. An exclusive bonus disc contains the complete Pennant-clinching NLCS Game 7, plus a stadium’s worth of additional bonus programming, including exclusive celebratory footage, Pablo Sandoval’s World Series Game One three homeruns and much more!

It was a lot of fun to watch the documentary and re-live the excitement. It's a well-made show that perfectly captures the season. Benjamin Bratt (of Law & Order) narrates--he's an SF native. The bonus features are also great and include lots of parade stuff. The LCS Game Seven comes complete without commercials and you can select the Giants audio feed instead of Buck and McCarver. The whole thing is produced by A+E Networks Home Entertainment/MLB Productions. They have promised three prizes so that's three happy RMC readers! Like I said earlier, it makes a great stocking stuffer. So, quit reading this and sharpen your pencils and submit your entries. CONTEST ENDS IN ONE WEEK. Deadline is midnight on Wednesday, December 5th.

Have fun!

--M.C.

p.s. When we were in Scotland in 2005 we stayed at a spectacular B&B called "The House of Mark." The owner asked her guests that week to make an anagram of the name and SIR (without using pencil or paper) came up with "UK Hearts of Home" which was by far the best. Thus she has earned judging rights.

p.p.s. Winners will send me their postal address which I will forward to A&E and they will send out the prizes (I have only my review copy). US addresses only, unfortunately.p.p.p.s. Links:

Yeah, it's a good deal. Pagan is a valuable guy: runs well, solid hitter, decent fielder in a tough park. He's got the right combination. Plus he's a hit with the fans and the media. Leadoff hitters are like lead vocalists in a rock band--gotta have a little flash and style to go with the substance.

Scutaro 3 years, $20M. Given his age, that's a pretty damn good payday. He'll start next year, of course, and 2014. Maybe by 2015 Joe Panik (who just turned 22 in A+ ball) is the #1 guy and Scoot is a highly-paid utility man/backup. I don't think he has any magic youth-juice, and not many middle infielders are good past age 37 (his current age), but it's not a bad deal given the market and the team's needs. The Giants don't have a 2B ready in the minors and they need a real-live starter. There were no other FA options. His contact skills fit the park and his no. 2 role well. Defense--range--worries me a bit, but with BCraw at SS they'll be OK. Plus, he was amazing last season and there's nothing wrong with a little love from the organization.

These guys, Affeldt, Scutaro and Pagan all got a World Series bonus to go with their World Series bonus. But in no case is it unreasonable given what other similar FA are making, nor are they excessively long. Well done, Mr. Sabean.

I love the idea of Pagan and Scutaro leading off every game for us for the next 3 years. They were both wonderful when it mattered. I guess Freddy Sanchez is no longer relevant. Oh well, he had his moment in the sun as a Giant.